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šŸŒ± New Study Reveals Over 3,500 Animal Species Threatened by Climate Change āš ļøšŸ¦‹

A new study reveals that over 3,500 animal species are directly threatened by climate change, with marine invertebrates at highest risk. Learn how climate change is accelerating biodiversity loss and what actions are urgently needed.

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Green Glow
May 22, 2025

A comprehensive new study has revealed that climate change is now directly threatening more than 3,500 animal species across the globe. Long overshadowed by threats like habitat destruction and overexploitation, the climate crisis has now become a leading driver of biodiversity loss. This finding comes from a sweeping analysis led by ecologist William Ripple of Oregon State University, published in the journal BioScience.

Table of Contents

The Scope of the Research: 70,000+ Species Reviewed

The team of researchers evaluated 70,814 animal species across 35 taxonomic classes, using data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They found that entire groupsā€”particularly invertebrates such as arachnids, centipedes, and marine life forms like hydrozoans and anthozoansā€”face disproportionate risks from rising temperatures, ocean heatwaves, and more frequent extreme weather events.

While mammals and birds also show vulnerability, the risk is significantly higher for marine and less-mobile species. This is particularly alarming because oceans absorb most of the Earth's excess heat, making them ground zero for climate-related biodiversity loss.

Mass Mortality Events Are Already Happening

The study highlights recent examples of catastrophic die-offs:

  • A 90% drop in mollusk populations off Israelā€™s coast after a spike in sea surface temperatures.

  • The 2021 heat dome in the Pacific Northwest, which killed billions of intertidal mussels, clams, and snails in just a few days.

  • A 2016 marine heatwave that bleached 30% of Australiaā€™s Great Barrier Reef.

  • An extreme warm spell that starved 4 million common murres and devastated Pacific cod populations by 71%.

These events show that climate change is not a future threatā€”it's a current crisis.

Data Gaps Obscure the True Scale of Risk

One of the most alarming insights from the study is the sheer scale of missing data:

  • Of the 101 recognized animal classes, 66 have not had any species assessed for climate vulnerability by the IUCN.

  • The 70,814 species evaluated represent only 5.5% of all described animal species.

  • Vertebrates, though well-studied, represent less than 6% of known animal species, meaning invertebrates remain largely invisible in conservation planning.

This data gap is critical. As Ripple puts it, ā€œWeā€™re at the start of an existential crisis for the Earthā€™s wild animals.ā€ Without more comprehensive assessments, thousands more species could be at risk without us even realizing it.

What Needs to Happen: Policy and Monitoring

The researchers emphasize that scientific knowledge must translate into coordinated global action. They call for:

  • Real-time monitoring of climate-induced die-offs.

  • Expanded citizen science to include overlooked species.

  • Improved climate risk models that factor in species' mobility and genetic diversity.

  • Integration of climate and biodiversity policies at national and international levels.

ā€œUnderstanding the risk is crucial for making informed policy decisions,ā€ Ripple explains. ā€œWe need to accelerate the evaluation of currently ignored species and synchronize biodiversity conservation with climate mitigation.ā€

Time Is Running Out

As global temperatures inch closer to the 1.5Ā°C thresholdā€”a point scientists warn could unleash compounding environmental disastersā€”closing the data and action gaps becomes more urgent than ever. The 3,500 species identified in this study may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Without immediate action, many more animals could silently slip into endangerment or extinction, victims not just of natural shifts but of human inaction in the face of scientific clarity.

Conclusion

The findings underscore an uncomfortable truth: climate change is not just a human problemā€”itā€™s a planetary crisis affecting the web of life. If we are to preserve biodiversity, we must look beyond iconic species and begin protecting the countless unseen animals that keep ecosystems functioning.

FAQs

What does the study say about climate change and animal species?

The study, led by Oregon State University, identifies over 3,500 animal species that are directly threatened by climate change due to rising temperatures, ocean heatwaves, and extreme weather events. It highlights that the climate crisis is now a top driver of biodiversity loss.

Which animals are most at risk from climate change?

Marine invertebratesā€”such as mollusks, corals, and hydrozoansā€”are particularly vulnerable due to their limited mobility and the warming of ocean waters. Other species like birds, mammals, and reptiles are also affected but to a lesser extent.

What are mass mortality events and why do they matter?

Mass mortality events are large-scale die-offs of animal populations caused by extreme climate conditions. Examples include a 90% mollusk die-off off Israelā€™s coast and the death of billions of intertidal animals during the Pacific Northwest heatwave. These events disrupt entire ecosystems.

Why is there a lack of data on climate risks to animals?

Only 5.5% of known animal species have been assessed for climate vulnerability, and most assessments focus on vertebrates. Invertebrates, which make up the majority of species, are often overlooked, creating a significant data gap.

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